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Running Header: Crime Patterns

Identifying Crime Patterns

Elizabeth Hall

Kaplan University

Introduction to Crime Analysis CJ110-03

Tracy Walker Townsend

1.12.2011

Identifying Crime Patterns 2

COEUR D’ALENE POLICE

Crime Analyst Unit

Part I Crimes Comparison to Previous Year Data

Overall Increase in Part I Crimes

Decrease in Forcible Rape

No Change in Motor Vehicle Theft

Crime# Reported in

2003# Reported in

2004Decimal to be Converted

Percentage of Change

Homicide 15 21 0.4 40.00%

Forcible Rape 23 19 -0.17391304 -17.39%

Robberies 55 79 0.43636364 43.64%

Aggravated Assaults 85 115 0.35294118 35.29%

Burglaries 125 138 0.104 10.40%

Motor Vehicle Theft 103 103 0 0.00%

Larceny 35 38 0.08571429 8.57%

Work Product of Elizabeth Hall Coeur D’Alene Crime Analysis Unit 1.12.2011

Identifying Crime Patterns Essay Questions

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1. In a short paragraph, explain what you believe the crime trend is for this jurisdiction.

I believe that the data for the Coeur D’Alene Police Department jurisdiction depicts an

overall increase in Part I Crimes. These crimes are showing a considerable increase in all violent

offenses excluding those of a sexual nature (forcible rape). By the nature of the crimes that have

increased considerably (robberies, aggravated assaults, and homicides), one might infer that there

is increasing gang activity in the area. (Siegel, 2010)

2. What information don’t we have that might explain some of the increases?

The first piece of information that is missing that might explain some of the increases in

Part I Crimes in Coeur D’Alene jurisdiction is the number of population. If there was a large

growth in the population of the city, the number of crimes reported might increase, but the per

person comparison of the crime rate may stay the same. Another piece of beneficial information

to interpret the increases in these crimes would be a map indicating location of incidents. The

last piece of information that I feel is missing is the demographical data concerning the locations

of the incidents because this data would contain information on unemployment rates, economical

fluctuations, and the ethnic makeup of the areas affected by the increase, as all of these factors

can explain the increases in jurisdictional crime rates. (Wilson, 2009)

3. What crime(s) is (are) staying the same?

The only crime that stayed the same in the data that we were provided is Motor Vehicle

Theft. Every other crime listed either increased or decreased.

4. What crimes should be analyzed a little closer in the hopes of finding a trend?

What would you try to identify? Would this be a tactical, administrative, or strategic

analysis?

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I believe that the crimes listed that should be analyzed a little closer in the hopes of

finding a trend would be the crimes with the largest percentage of increase. In this case, this

would be robberies, with a 43.64 percent increase, homicide with a 40.00 percent increase, and

aggravated assaults with a 35.29 percent increase. The first item to identify, is the geospatial

location of the incidents, so I could map them. Once this is done, I can locate the incident

reports by the address and chart any details given in the individual reports to look for similarities

in times, days of the week, modus operandi, offender descriptions, and other details that will help

me identify any trends. (Bruce, Hick, & Cooper, 2004)

This particular analysis would be classified as strategic, because it is focused on patterns,

trends, and causes of crime than in a particular crime or offender or their apprehension. Tactical

analysis refers to the daily routine operations that an analyst performs to identify crime series

and hot spots in the jurisdiction. This may be focused on aiding the apprehension of a particular

offender or group of offenders. Administrative analysis involves any kind of crime analysis

reporting to administration in your agency to any other analysis not involving the direct

apprehension of criminals. This could be research, statistical reports used in explanation of

funding needs for an agency, or demographic charting for the jurisdiction. (Bruce et al, 2004)

5. Are the crimes above Part I or Part II crimes? Explain the difference between the two

types.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (2004), there are two types of offenses.

The first is called Part I crimes, which are considered serious crimes. The list of these offenses is

as follows, criminal homicide, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle

theft, arson, and larceny with the exception of motor vehicle theft. These crimes happen on a

Identifying Crime Patterns 5

regular basis, and incident data is collected for the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) monthly.

(Federal Bureau of Investigation 2004)

The second is called Part II crimes, and are comprised of less serious criminal activity.

The only data collected on these crimes is arrest data. The crimes listed in the UCR as Part II

offenses are, simple assaults, forgery, counterfeiting, fraud, embezzlement, buying, receiving, or

possessing of stolen property, vandalism, weapons carrying or possession, prostitution, sex

offenses, drug abuse violations, and other minor offenses. Vagrancy, public drunkenness, and

disorderly conduct are even more Part II offenses. (Federal Bureau of Investigation 2004)

References

Bruce, C.W., Hick, S.R., & Cooper, J.P. (2004). Exploring Crime Analysis Reading on Essential

Skills. International Association of Crime Analysts. Overland Park, KS.

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Federal Bureau of Investigation, (2004). Crime in the United States 2004. Appendix II-

Offenses in Uniform Crime Reporting. Retrieved From:

http://www2.fbi.gov/ucr/cius_04/appendices/appendix_02.html

Siegel, L.J. (2010). Criminology: Theories, Patterns, and Typologies. Tenth Edition. Belmont:

Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

Wilson, J.Q. (2009). Crime and Economy Don’t Tell the Whole Story. Los Angeles Times.

Retrieved from: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-oe-

wilson8- 2009jan08,0,7541431.story

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